If you're prone to having acne, you probably know the struggle of keeping your skin hydrated. 99% of beauty products made for acne are super drying, and that's because salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, while magical for clearing acne, strip your skin from its natural oils and water. Don't take me wrong, those are incredible ingredients, but they can have nasty side effects on your skin.

I struggle with surface dryness caused by using harsh acne products. My acne is hormonal and mostly located around my chin and temples, but I also struggle with dilated pores and congestion around my nose and forehead. I have extremely dry under-eyes, which causes fine lines despite my relatively young age, and putting on makeup can be a pain when half of my face is peeling off from all this dryness.

You recognize yourself in my skin? Keep on reading!

The first lesson is not to get discouraged. You might need to try a lot of products before you find something hydrating that doesn't break you out. It costs money, but in the end, when your skin is soft and plumped with hydration, it's totally worth it.

Be patient. Products don't work overnight, and acne scars might take even longer than active breakouts to clear up and get better. Establish a morning and night routine, and keeping up with it will give you results within two to four weeks. However, significant results usually take around twelve weeks.

I have learned through time that low-end drugstore product just don't do the trick for me, and that's also the case for a lot of people. Don't be scared to invest in high-end dermatological products, such as Bioderma, La Roche-Posay, Vichy, etc.

Go for products made for sensitive skin. You want to keep your skin hydrated, but you don't want it to react badly to something. Harsh products can induce acne, and you're trying to get rid of it.

Check the ingredients. You want to look for those: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Urea, and Hydrogenated Polysobutene. These ingredients are hydrating, water-retaining, and also very safe for acne-prone skin. You may want to keep using Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Retinoids, Lactic Acid and other exfoliating enzymes to keep flaky skin away. These help with skin cell renewal, and your hydrating products will be significantly more effective afterwards.

In the same train of thoughts, don't stray way from oils. Some oils may be very effective at hydrating your skin and keeping it clear at the same time. Rosehip Oil, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, and Squalane are safe for acne, and they will make a big difference in the texture of your skin. Raw Honey also makes a great hydrating mask if used once or twice a week for fifteen minutes.

Don't believe everything beauty consultants tell you. You don't need to buy ridiculously expensive products at Sephora to hydrate your skin. Research first, ask a lot of questions, and request samples. Good dermatological products might be more expensive than drugstore brands, but they're still half the price of what you may find at Sephora.

Consult a dermatologist if you're not sure of what to do. They can point out what might work better according to your skin type, and if you have active breakouts, cysts, or other skin issues that you haven't been able to clear up, dermatologists can be very helpful.

I hope this helped, and good luck!

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